Recollections: 7th Med Bn - A Trip Back to Korea

From: Doug Halbert: doughalbert1@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 6 May 1996

A trip back to Korea

A Human Interest Story

This trip I brought with me photos of my encampment while in the Army in Korea some 43 years ago. I was assigned to the 2nd Platoon, Clearing Company, 7th Medical Battalion, 7th Infantry Division. In one of the photos is Choi Ki Soo, a KATUSA (Korean Army personnel Temporarily assigned to the USA forces.)

Choi Ki Soo was one of ten with whom I shared a tent. We performed our daily chores together. Also, he worked hard at learning English and studying the medical services that we were rendering. He also served as an interpreter when the wounded included Korean soldiers. He was a good friend to all of us and was of great help to us in learning about and understanding the Korean culture.

The Manager of General Affairs at Hewlett-Packard Korea, Kang Joon Lee, offered to help my son Douglas, who is the General Manager of the Hewlett-Packard Korea Instrument Operation, locate my friend from the Korean War in 1953. A National newspaper, Dong Ah, very generously agreed to publish a short story and the picture I had of Choi Ki Soo. This was done on April 4th.

On Monday, April 8th, Doug received a call at work. In a country of 48 million people, Choi Ki Soo had been found. He lives with his wife and youngest daughter in the city of Daejon, about two and a half hours south of Seoul. Several members of his family saw the picture and article in the newspaper. They recalled that Choi Ki Soo had a copy of the same picture in his memoirs of the Korean War. I do recall that I had given him a set of the pictures but did not think that he would still have them after all these years. The family members called him. He tried to reach Doug on Friday at HP Korea but it was a holiday so no contact was made. Choi Ki Soo tried again on the 8th and made contact.

It turns out that Choi Ki Soo returned to his home in Daejon in May of 1954 and resumed his profession as school teacher. He retired from teaching last year. Arrangements were made for Choi Ki Soo to travel to Seoul on Tuesday the 9th where we had a reunion at the Seoul Station upon his arrival. My son's driver, Mr. Hong, and his secretary, Kwon Soon Kyoung, served as our interpreters as Choi Ki Soo had forgotten his English, having not used it since leaving the service 42 years ago.

Also joining us at the railroad station were Choi Ki Soo's brother-in-law, Oh Sung Yul, who is a Director with the Dongbu Steel Corporation in Seoul, and a reporter and photographer from Dong Ah. We traded stories of old and learned about what each of us had done during the ensuing 43 years. We enjoyed a meal together at a fine Korean restaurant located in the Seoul Railroad Station.

At the end of the day Mr. Hong and I drove Choi Ki Soo back to his home in Daejon. He invited us in to his home and insisted that I share a beer with him. He also showed me numerous plaques and certificates he had received from Korean officials,including the President of the Korea, extolling his virtues as a teacher of young children.

He told me that Mr. Hong and I were the first persons outside his family to whom he had shown this collection. He was most proud of his achievements. Mr. Hong assured me that his pride was most justified. It is unusual for an individual to receive so many high level accolades. A great time was had by all. Many pictures were taken which will be exchanged when developed.

It was most rewarding to learn that my good friend had survived the actions of war and gone on to succeed in his desire to teach others. It is now my assignment to search for the other GI names we recalled together, Fawcett, Neuhaus, and Spencer. Searching 260 million people in the US might be a little more difficult but I will give it a try when I get home.

Part 2 - Human Interest Story

On Sunday, April 21 at 11:30 AM Joan and I were picked up at the lobby of the Swiss Grand Hotel by Mr. Ho, the brother-in-law of Choi Ki Soo and transported to the home of Choi San Kim, the brother of Choi Ki Soo.

I had, the day previous, sought the assistance of the business services area operated by the hotel. It is customary to exchange gifts when you are invited to the home of a Korean for the first time. For the lady of the house a bouquet of spring flowers is the gift of choice. For the man of the house it is customary to present a basket of fruit or some type of confection or bakery item. I selected a vanilla fruit cake from the bakery which had pineapple, kiwi, and strawberries on top.

We were greeted at the door by Choi Ki Soo, his brother, his wife, his brother's wife, and two young children belonging to Choi San Kim. The first activity on the agenda was to remove shoes and present gifts. Mr. Choi very proudly unwrapped two gifts he had for me. The first was a wall hanging of carved wood. At the top is a large Korean men's hat, next is a Korean pipe, next is a replica of a coin, next a replica of a coin purse, and last a wooden shoe. He proudly held it against the wall to display it and then handed it to me.

Then he started unwrapping the second gift. It is a pair of glass covered dolls in traditional Korean costume and assembled as a wall hanging. The carved wood hanging is symbolic of a wish for prosperity. The glass covered dolls are a symbol friendship. After viewing the gifts and extending many bows and thanks, Mr. Choi then, with very great care, re-wrapped the gifts and packed them in a box for me to use in carrying them home.

The ladies of the house then began bringing a spread of food you cannot believe to two tables about 8 inches above the floor in the living room. There were vegetables, meats (the main meat was Pulgogi [a thin cut beef that is marinated and bar-b-qued on a hibachi] which you combine on a lettuce leaf with bean sprouts, hot bean paste, garlic, and kim-chee), three varieties of kim- chee (fermented cabbage, the Korean National dish), squid, octopus, fish, and rice.

We had great fun trying everything using chop sticks. (We were offered forks but they were politely declined as I felt that "when in Rome, do as the Romans do"). There were many other items and all were excellent. The men of the house did not interfere in the kitchen or with the preparation and serving of the meal. The women run the house. The men run the world outside the house. Choi Ki soo mentioned that men are helpless in the house because they are not allowed to touch anything in the kitchen. It was very clear that the women of Korea have a long way to go before they are treated as equals! It is certainly a "man's world" there. The only place a woman has any authority is in the home.

After the meal we enjoyed conversation with the help of Mr. Oh and took numerous pictures. I have already sent copies of the pictures to Mr. Choi and hope to hear from him in the future. While he speaks no English, I have invited him to journey to the USA. I would be pleased to host him in our country. It was certainly and honor to join this Korean family in their home.

Our hosts were most gracious and really put on a festive meal for us. It was an experience that will not soon be forgotten.

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